Sew What’s Up Presents
The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
“Sew What’s Up,”
which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: Maddie
Date: 12-27-2005, 04:32 AM (1 of 12)
|
I'm new at all this sewing, quilting, embroidering thing. I've quilted on and off for a few years now, and I'm just now starting to paper piece. I've been sewing for about 6 months and still consider myself a beginner. I got the embroidery machine for Christmas, so I'm brand new at that. And ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I have seriously no less than 17 things started (16 of them are quilts or baby quilts). I get going on one, get bored with it, and start another one. Oh, and you so do not want to know how big my fabric stash is. I wouldn't be so concerned, but the problem is - I'm not finishing anything and I have like zero storage space left. I'm out of control! How do you guys do this? How do you control yourself? How do you focus? Do you pick one quilt and finish it? Do you work on 1-2 at a time? I need some words of wisdom...I'm drowning in fabric 
|
User: Maddie
Member since: 12-21-2005 Total posts: 24 |
From: Donaburd
Date: 12-27-2005, 10:34 AM (2 of 12)
Hi Maddie, your post gave me a good laugh this morning! LOL I did the same thing when I started. I wanted to make everything I saw at once.  I've since disciplined myself to making one quilt at a time until I finish it. Also, I only buy fabric for the current quilt project. This is working out good and much more inexpensive for me. Happy quilting!!Donna Donna
http://community.webshots.com/user/donaburd |
User: Donaburd
Member since: 12-15-2005 Total posts: 38 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 12-27-2005, 01:04 PM (3 of 12)
|
Maddie, we have all been there , done that... So , even though this will sound harsh, it is said with great affection.. Self-discipline.. You have to make yourself finish one, then the sense of accomplishment will spur you on to finish another one, etc... Soon, you will be able to do one to the end without a lot of pain.. LOL... Seriously, if there are some you absolutely cannot make yourself go back to, donate them to someone else, or a Sr. center or some org.. Some of the residents in some retirement homes are grateful for any donations.. I did a lot of that when I used to visit my DM before I lost her.. They were always grateful for all they received.. Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
|
From: plrlegal
Date: 12-27-2005, 02:02 PM (4 of 12)
|
Maddie welcome to Sew-Whats-New. Follow the other ladies' advise and you'll settle into quilting and start using some of your stash. We all have stashes but that's to be expected. Just tell yourself that you have to finish some of what you have before you buy anymore and walk away. That's what I finally had to make myself do and now I'm beginning to get some of my UFOs near to the completion point. Hang in there and you'll see how fast you settle into actual sewing/quilting instead of just buying. Patsy Patsy
|
User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 12-27-2005, 02:19 PM (5 of 12)
|
Maddie, welcome to the ZOO!! I have finally learned to stay working at one project unless I find a little one to do quickly in between a hard one. I have just started quilting and have a dozen or so projects to get to in a laundry basket under my cutting table. So once I'm done on thing, the next thing is all ready to go. Some days, all I do is cut fabric, then pile it all into another basket with the pattern information, and other stuff I need, then I can just sit and sew the next day with no cutting. It does feel good to get a basket emptied, cause then I can start on another pile!
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: Maddie
Date: 12-27-2005, 03:35 PM (6 of 12)
So everyone does this? Oh ok. At least I don't feel as crazy. I was starting to wonder if I was developing "horder" tendencies or something!  Self discipline? Bwahahaha....thats just great cause I have none of that. Who woulda "thunk" that sewing would develop positive character traits? LOL And you know, that basket idea is a good one. I think I may have to do that. I may have to try that. Right now I just have piles of washed fabric in a laundry basket in my sewing storage area. It's a disaster. I also need to make myself some kind of thread holder thing...I'm going nuts keeping track of all the thread 
|
User: Maddie
Member since: 12-21-2005 Total posts: 24 |
From: HeyJudee
Date: 12-29-2005, 04:29 PM (7 of 12)
Yep Maddie, I do that too. I started quilting by trial and error about 2 - 3 years ago. Then I took a quilting class and really got hooked. Now I have so many UFO's because I've seen a "great" quilting class offered and would sign up. But you never finish the project in the class, so I would just end up adding a UFO to the pile. Last spring and summer, I joined two quilt block swaps on SWN and haven't had the time to put the quilts together either. And I'm taking two Block of the Month classes that run from September til June. I haven't dared count the number of UFO's that I've got sitting around. My New Year's resolution this year....I am NOT taking another class until I finish my UFO's.  Boy I had better stick to it too. (I hope)
TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366 
|
From: Maddie
Date: 12-30-2005, 12:31 PM (8 of 12)
|
Well right now, three of the quilt projects I have are almost done. I think this weekend, over the long weekend, I'm going to try to finish them. I have a full size quilt with a TON of embroidery on it to do, and two baby quilts to finish a few the blocks and put everything together. I'm a little nervous about the last step....the quilting part..where you sew all three layers together. I always get to that point and then put it aside because I don't want to mess it up 
|
User: Maddie
Member since: 12-21-2005 Total posts: 24 |
From: Magot
Date: 12-30-2005, 12:40 PM (9 of 12)
|
Maddie, have you thought about tying your first quilt? Pinning and tacking the whole things together can take an age but is well worth doing. I wouldn't attempt to quilt a big thing unless I had an even feed foot. My first quilts were all quilted by hand and I have only recently started quilting them withthe machine. It is a well known fact of life that a stash does not get smaller even if you fiinish things.... love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
|
From: bridesmom
Date: 01-01-2006, 11:51 PM (10 of 12)
|
You know, maybe Mary should have another contest for UFO's?? That would get us out from under for a while!
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: Dede
Date: 01-02-2006, 11:35 AM (11 of 12)
|
I also need to make myself some kind of thread holder thing...I'm going nuts keeping track of all the thread I got a thread holder thing for Xmas. I was thrilled. I'd put it on my list as I had seen it at Wal Mart for CA$12. Well worth it. |
User: Dede
Member since: 03-23-2001 Total posts: 469 |
From: Maddie
Date: 01-03-2006, 01:36 AM (12 of 12)
|
I got a thread holder thing for Xmas. I was thrilled. I'd put it on my list as I had seen it at Wal Mart for CA$12. Well worth it. Yeah I saw one at Joann's that I liked for 9.99 and I almost bought it but didn't. I'm going to look around some more. I better hurry cause I just ordered 24 spools of embroidery thread off ebay this weekend 
|
User: Maddie
Member since: 12-21-2005 Total posts: 24 |
Visit Sew What’s Up for the latest sewing and quilting tips and discussions.
This page was originally located on Sew What’s New (www.sew-whats-new.com) at http://www.sew-whats-new.com/vb/archive/index.php/t-17695.html
Sew What’s Up is hosted by ZenSoft